Engine starter control



Sept. 18, 1934. M. P. FERGUSQNY 1,974,208

' ENGINE STARTER CONTROL Filed Dec. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 11v VENTOR v BY moim/P -gergasorv A TTORNE Y M. P. FERGUSON ENGINE swarm coNTRpn- Sept. 18,1934.-

Filed DjE. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LLS/OTY/ Tiled/000111236 r/zwufi A a? w W F V 3 (fig. '7

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Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES ENGINE STARTER CONTROL Malcolm P. Ferguson, Eimira, N. Y., assignor to Eclipse Machine Ccmpany, Elmira, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 16, 1931, Serial No. 531,486

Glaims.

' 5 gine, with provisions for preventing such actuation when the engine is self-operative, or during backward rotation of the engine as in case of backfire.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel device for controlling an engine starter from a manually operated control member of the engine.

Another object is the provision of such a device in hich the initial actuation of the control member when the engine is stopped causes the starting system to operate, but self-operation or back-firing of the engine causes disconnection of the central member from the starting system.

A further object is to provide such a device which is reliable in operation, simple and economical in construction and which is readily adaptable to existing types of engine installation.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of one preferred form of the invention, certain of the parts thereof being shown in section;

2 is a similar View of a second embodiment of the invention;

3 is an enlarged sectional view of the controlling mechamsm illustrated in Fig. 2 taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of a modified form of controlling device;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken substantially along the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially on the line 7'? of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is an assembly view showing in detail the application of the novel engine starter control to an automotive power plant.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated an electrical starting system for an internal combustion engine, not shown, 50 comprising a battery 1 grounded at 2 and connected by a lead 3 to a starting switch 4 mounted on a starting motor 5 which is grounded in the usual manner to complete the starting circuit. 55 Controlling mechanism for the fuel supply of the engine is provided including a manual control member in the form of an accelerator pedal 6 arranged to operate a push link '7 having an adjustable abutment 8 fixed thereon. The abutment 8 is adapted to engage one arm of a lever 9 hinged at 11 and arranged to operate a throttle rod 12.

A connection for operating the starting switch 4 from the accelerator pedal 6 is provided in the form of a cylindrical enlargement 13 on the end of the push link '7 slidably mounted within a sleeve member 14 and normally latched thereto by means of a piston latch member 15 engaging a shoulder 16 formed on said cylindrical enlargement 13. sleeve member 14 is pivoted at 17 to a lever 18 which is hinged at 19. The opposite arm of lever 18 is provided with an insulated roller 21 arranged to engage a movable member 22 or the starting switch 4 and close the same when the sleeve member 14 is moved by depression of the accelerator pedal.

The piston latch 15 is slidably mounted in a cylinder 23 formed at right angles to the sleeve member 14 and means are provided according to the present invention for withdrawing the latch 15 when the engine starts or when the engine back-fires. This means as illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a flexible diaphragm 24 acting as a closure-for a chamber 25 formed by a casing 26 having an inlet 27 threaded into an element of the fuel intake system of the engine such as the intake manifold 28. lhe center of the diaphragm 24 is connected by a link 29 to a toggle 31, one end of which is anchored at 32 and the opposite end of which is connected at 33 to a flexible shaft 34. The opposite end of shaft 34 is connected in any suitable manner with the latch 15, and a flexible sheath 35 for shaft 34 is connected at one end to the casing 26 and at the other end to the cylinder 23.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, starting with the parts in the positions illustrated, depression of the accelerator pedal 6 will close starting switch 4 and cause the engine to be cranked. When the engine starts, vacuum in the intake 28 causes the diaphragm 24 to bend toward the intake manifold causing the toggle 31 to shorten and actuate the shaft 34 to withdraw latch 15 from the path of shoulder 16 on the cylindrical member 13. Thereafter, depression of the accelerator pedal 6 merely operates the throttle of the engine in the usual manner.

Should the engine rotate backward as in case of back-fire, the resultant pressure in the intake manifold pushes diaphragm 24 away from said manifold, again shortening the toggle 31 and causing the latch 15 to be withdrawn as previously described. It will thus be seen that rotation of the engine in either direction will cause the diaphragm 24 to withdraw latch 15 and preventclosure of the starting switch 4 by actuation of the accelerator pedal.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. In Fig. 2 the elements red of the electrical starting system including the starting switch 4 are the same as illustrated in Fig. 1 and aresimilarly numbered. The switch operating lever 13, however, is actuated by a sleeve member 36 having a somewhat diiferent form from the sleeve member 14 and the cooperating actuating member 37 and latch 38 are also differ ently formed. In this embodiment of the invention the actuating member 37 corresponding to cylindrical member 13in Fig. 1 is squared as shown in Fig. 3, and is provided with a laterally positioned shoulder 39 (Fig. 4) with tapered sides 41. The latch 38 is off-set from the actuating member 37 as best shown in Fig. 3, and is provided with a pin 42 arranged normally in the path of shoulder 39. The latch 38 is arranged to form a piston within a cylinder 43, and is prevented from rotation therein by any suitable means such as a groove 45 within the Wall of said cylinder forming a guide way for the pin 42. The normal position of the latch 38 with the pin 42 in the path of shoulder 39 is defined by suitable adjustable yielding means such as a spring 46 bearing on an end abutment 47 in the lower endv of the cylinder 43.

The upper end of cylinder 43 is connected by a flexible conduit 48 with the intake manifold 28 whereby pressures within the intake manifold are applied to the latch 38 to move the same within the cylinder 43. r

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, actuation of the member 37 from the accelerator pedal when the engine is not running causes the sleeve member 36 to be moved by virtue of the latch pin 42 engaging against the shoulder 39 whereby lever 18 is moved to close the starting switch 4; When the engine starts, intake vacuum transmitted by. the tube 48 raises the latch 42 out of locking position and releases the starting switch. If the engineshould back-fire, pressure in the intake manifold causes the latch member 38 to be depressed, compressing spring 46 and moving the pin 42 downwardly out of its latche ing position.

In Fig. 5 a modification of the structure illus trated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is shown which allows the elements of the sleeve member to be formed in the same plane instead of in off-set planes. As' there shown, the sleeve member 51 is pivoted to the upper end of lever 18 and has a cylinder 52 formed at right angles thereto. A piston latch member 53 is slidably arranged in the cylinder 52 and is provided with a pair of diametrical slots 54 and 55 having an interposed shoulder 56; The

' cylindrical push member 57 has formed therewith an axially extending rod 58 which is ar'- ranged to abut against the shoulder 56 when the latch member 53 is in normal position but which can traverse'either of the slots 54 or 55 when the latch member is moved in either direction thus breaking. the connection between the sleeve mem ber 51 and push member 57.

The normal position of the piston member 53 is defined by a yielding abutment such as the spring 59'bearing against the cap 51. The shoulder 56 is preferably arranged somewhat below the surface of the latch member 53 whereby the rod 58 extends partially within the latch memher when the parts are in their normal positions whereby the rod 58 prevents rotation of the latch 53 within the cylinder 52.

The operation of this structure is substantially similar to that just described, namely, the sleeve member 5l.is normally connected to the actuating member 57 by means of the shoulder 56 on the latch member 53 engaging the rod 58, but movement of the latch 53 by either pressure or vacuum from the intake manifold will cause the shoulder 56 to move out of registry with the rod 58 whereby the rod is enabled to traverse one or the other of the slots 54 or 55 whereupon the throttle can be actuated from the accelerator pedal in the usual manner without actuating the starting switch.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that various other embodiments are possible and changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:-

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a manually operable member, a starting circuit for said engine including a starting switch,

connected to the manual member to opersaid switch and means responsive to backward rotation of the engine for disabling said connecting means.

2. In combination with an internal combustic-n engine, a control system therefor including a manually operable member, a starting system for said engine including a starting switch, means normally connecting said manual member to operate said switch when the engineis stopped and means responsive to backward rotation of the engine for disabling said connecting means.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine including a fuel intake system, a controlling system therefor including an accelerator pedal, 2. starting system for said engine including a starting switch, means connecting said accelerator pedal to operate said switch by initial movement thereof when the engine is stopped and means operated by positive pressure in said intake system above atmospheric pressure for disconnecting said accelerator pedal from said switch.

4.'In combination with an internal combustion engine including a fuel intake system, means for controlling the fuel intake including an accelrator pedal, a starting system for said engine including a starting switch, connecting means between the acceierator pedal and starting switch including a movable latch and means operated by variations inpressure in said intake system both above and below atmospheric pressure for moving said latch to disable said connecting means.

5. In combination with an internal combustion engine includin a fuel intake system, means for controlling the fuel intake including an accelerator pedal, a starting system including a starting switch, connecting means between the accelerator pedal and starting switch including a movable latch, a flexible diaphragm subject to pressure in the intake system, and connecting means between'said diaphragm and latch whereby flexing of the diaphragm in either direction from its normal position moves the latch to dis able said-connecting means.

MALCOLM P. FERGUSON. 

